DIETS, MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS, AND SURGERY
COVID-19 has created a perfect storm for people who struggle with weight gain. Gym and park closures have upended exercise routines, and the stress of coping with a worldwide pandemic is quite literally weighing on us all. It’s easy to see how you might gain weight during the pandemic — five, 10, and even 30 pounds, but it’s important to keep your weight from getting too far out of control. Being overweight can have a serious impact on your mental, emotional and physical well-being.
Most people have a good idea of what they should be doing to lose weight; choosing veggies over sugary snacks, exercising trumps lounging on the couch, and making smart choices throughout your day helps to avoid impulsive midnight snacks. But when your weight loss reaches a plateau, it can be hard to understand what you should do to achieve the results and goals you set.
Losing weight takes time and hard work, but the results can be life changing. If you’ve tried to lose weight through diet and exercise without success, it may be time to consider practical weight-loss strategies such as medical or surgical weight management.
Medical/Nonsurgical weight loss
Medical or nonsurgical weight loss can be an ideal option for people who have not been able to lose weight on their own and need to get at least one weight-related medical problem under control.
You may be a candidate for medically-supervised weight management if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more; or have a BMI of 27 or more with at least one weight-related medical condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea; and have not been able to maintain weight loss on your own.
Medical weight-loss helps people who want to improve their health through weight loss and are not interested (or eligible for) bariatric surgery. Unlike commercial weight-loss programs, the medical weight-loss program at Tower Health gives you access to a team of experts – with treatment plans tailored to your metabolism, body composition, and health needs.
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Surgical weight loss
Weight-loss surgery offers hope to those who have tried and failed to lose weight for better health. You may be a candidate for minimally invasive bariatric surgery if you have a BMI of 40 or more; or have a BMI of 35 or more with at least one weight-related medical condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea; and have tried to lose weight through diet and exercise without success.
Surgical weight loss is a tool that helps put a stop to the diet-gain weigh-repeat cycle and improve people’s overall health. Weight-loss surgery is more than a single procedure – it’s a guided lifestyle change. As part of a weight-loss plan, bariatric surgery can help people manage and, in some cases, cure common weight-related health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, arthritis and stress incontinence. Reduced weight can help alleviate joint pain and improve mobility, making it easier for formerly overweight patients to engage in the activities they love. As a result, weight-loss patients often have better self-confidence, reduced stress and a higher quality of life than they did before surgery.
Weight loss isn’t about looking good – it’s about living your healthiest. Losing any amount of weight can help improve health. Whatever your weight goals may be, now is a good time to assess your lifestyle and focus on all the things that keep you healthy. Take steps to achieve your health-related goals and learn how to improve your quality of life by joining our free virtual webinar on Thursday, February 25. Chestnut Hill Hospital’s Weight Loss Surgery team will be presenting information and answering your questions on how medical weight loss or surgery might be the right fit for you. Register for Chestnut Hill Hospital virtual wellness programs at: CHWellnessEvents.com.
Located in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia and a member of Tower Health, Chestnut Hill Hospital is a 148-bed, community-based, university-affiliated, teaching hospital committed to excellent patient-centered care. Chestnut Hill Hospital provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient, diagnostic and treatment services for people in northwest Philadelphia and eastern Montgomery County. With more than 300 board-certified physicians, Chestnut Hill Hospital’s specialties include minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgery, cardiology, gynecology, oncology, orthopedics, urology, family practice and internal medicine. Chestnut Hill Hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission and is affiliated with university-hospitals in Philadelphia for heart and stroke care and residency programs. For more information, visit www.towerhealth.org.